Working for Healing and an End to Violence

Our hearts are filled with sorrow at the tragic events less than 24 hours ago in southeast Washington, D.C. Senseless violence, this time directed at the civilians and military personnel at work protecting our nation at Washington’s Navy Yard, has once again torn at the heart of a community and forever impacted hundreds of family members and loved ones.

Our nation’s capital is now linked to Fort Hood, Newtown, Aurora, Tucson, Virginia Tech, and Columbine in an ever-growing litany of communities permanently impacted by the effects of gun violence. With alarming frequency, communities are experiencing the torture of watching school-age children, moviegoers, college students, and military personnel become victims. Quite simply, this must not continue.

Regardless of the motivation or the factors that may have contributed to today’s events, we cannot afford to wait until our own local communities are the ones left suffering. We must come together to discuss common sense ways to prevent these tragedies from ever happening again and to create a society in which we can regain some of the innocence and trust so irrevocably shaken by these tragedies.

As always, our member agencies stand by to offer assistance to those who may be suffering, and we join with them and the entire Catholic Charities network in praying for the deceased, the wounded, their families, and all touched by this act of evil. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them.